Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 985, settled in 1895.
Atkins’ average trip to work is 14 minutes, below both Virginia’s towns (27 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). Among 254 Virginia towns, just 3 have a lower July high than Atkins. Old Stone Tavern is on the National Register of Historic Places. Atkins has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Atkins beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 1,352 in 1980, 1,138 in 2000. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 4 maps from 1935 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Atkins is unincorporated, so Smyth County and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.
Ordered by what stands out in Atkins.
The typical Atkins home is worth about $159,000, up 5.2% in a year, 62% below the Virginia typical home. 77% of households own their home in Atkins, above both the Virginia town median (68%) and the median of U.S. towns (73%).
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Its public schools are run by the Smyth County Public Schools. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atkins ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 168 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts
Most working residents leave Atkins for work: only 14% work in town. Atkins’ median household income is $49,000. Since 2013, Atkins has lost 574 jobs, to 1,875 in 2023.
| Atkins | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $49,000 | $102,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 14% | 4.9% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 80% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Atkins has chilly winters and pleasant summers. Among 254 Virginia towns, just 7 have a lower January low than Atkins.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Atkins beats the Virginia average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 16. 18% of Atkins adults report frequent physical distress. Only 8 of the 254 Virginia towns we compare have a higher share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Atkins.
| Atkins | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 12% | 14% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 12% | 14% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 17% | 19% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 11% | 12% |
| What stands out | Atkins | VA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 11.1% | 6.2% |
| More smokers | 18.9% | 12.2% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 17.1% | 11.1% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
5.1 miles of trail in 0 parks and preserves. The trail density in Atkins is 0.8 miles per square mile.
| Atkins | Virginia towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 0.1% | 4.7% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.8 miles per square mile | 0.7 | 0.4 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Atkins; the nearest are
About 1 of every 100 Atkins residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across Virginia.
Where Atkins’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
CDP in Virginia, United States
Atkins is a census-designated place (CDP) in Smyth County, Virginia, United States. As of the 2020 census, Atkins had a population of 1,121.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Atkins has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.